Bellmore's Koukla Children's Boutique relocates to Wantagh
Koukla Children’s Boutique regularly features in-store activities for kids, and clothing for sale. Credit: Nicole Petris
In 2019, retail veteran Nicole Petris was at a turning point in her career. After 18 years of working in stores across Long Island, from local shops to the Americana Manhasset, Petris decided to channel her retail expertise into something she could call her own — thus, Koukla Children's Boutique was born.
Koukla, whose name is a homage to Petris’ Greek heritage and means "beautiful doll," opened as a children’s clothing boutique in Bellmore.
Petris began integrating themed events, kids birthday parties and pop-up shops into the brand’s repertoire — resulting in a new path for the business and the opening of a larger location to cater to the demand.
Once Petris began hosting pop-up shops at schools, vendor markets and in the Hamptons, Taylor Swift and K-pop sing-alongs, and more, she required a bigger space.
She relocated Koukla to Wantagh in May — offering the same luxury children’s items from the Bellmore shop but with more event space.
The boutique is a one-woman show, independently owned and run by Petris, who used her past retail connections and networking to source inventory for the store.
A large part of Koukla’s appeal is the clothing pieces from European brands "that offer quality, detail and design you can’t really find elsewhere," she says. The boutiques offer complimentary gift wrapping and birthday cards with every purchase.
Items in the shop range from $5-$250, including clothing, bathing suits, viral toys (such as dumpling squishies), candy, party favors and accessories.
Private parties start at $399 with customizable add-ons available a la carte.
Koukla Children’s Boutique, 3317 Merrick Rd., Wantagh, 516-490-4002, Instagram: koukla.ny.
